Who is running for Denver County Court, Retention: Judge Michelle Martinez-Thomas in 2026?

Denver County Court Judge (Denver County Court)

Michelle Martinez-Thomas is the sitting Denver County Court Judge, standing for a retention vote on the November 3, 2026 ballot¹. Denver County Court Judge since March 2020². The commission found the judge meets performance standards²⁴.

• Denver County Court Judge since March 2020²
• Magistrate in the 17th Judicial District (criminal, protection order and domestic relations cases); ten years with the Colorado State Public Defender Office²
• Colorado State University; University of Denver law degree²
• Colorado judges are first appointed by the governor to a provisional term and then stand for retention³. Michelle Martinez-Thomas was appointed to the Denver County Court in March 2020². This is a retention election: voters decide yes or no on keeping the sitting judge, and no opponent is on the ballot¹.
• Bar poll: Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, 2026 evaluation: the page prints "Recommendation: Meets Performance Standards" and states: "The Denver County Court Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 5-0 that Judge Michelle Martinez-Thomas MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS."²⁴. This is an official state commission evaluation of the judge's performance, not an endorsement.
• Public discipline: The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline states that it has no jurisdiction over Denver County Court judges, so its public Determination Database does not cover this judge. No other discipline source was checked.⁵